Crime in KSA not a ‘worrying phenomenon’

Crime in Saudi Arabia has not become a worrying social phenomenon, a criminologist said here recently.
Anti-crime and terrorism professor, Dr. Yousif Al-Rumaih said he does not condone criminality but has sympathy for criminals because many come from broken homes.
He said international statistics show that 30 percent of criminals commit repeated offenses. “These are the criminals who use crime to make a living and lead exciting lifestyles.”
He said there have not been any serial killers in the Kingdom. “Criminals are deterred by the possibility of execution, and even at an international level there have only been about 15 serial killers.”
Many criminals were probably subjected to violence in early childhood. They would often start committing violent acts by killing animals. “Five years ago, a woman in an Arab country killed 15 children,” he said.
“Most crimes are committed by people between the ages of 17 and 23 and mostly motivated by small quarrels and fights. They also consume drugs and alcohol.”
Crimes can be linked to low educational levels, but there are also sophisticated criminals. “Some criminals are clever, especially technology minded criminals who specialize in computers, forgery, counterfeiting and hacking,” he said.
“No society is completely crime-free. Prophet Adam had two sons, and one of them killed the other. If we want a society that is completely crime-free we would end up with a society that has no human beings,” he said.
“As a criminologist, I don’t sympathize with criminals for the crimes they commit, but I sympathize with them as human beings. Criminals lead very rough lives; they are rejected, unemployed and isolated, so they are forced to go back to prison or a life of crime,” he said.
“Unemployment has a dangerous impact on society and is directly linked to some crimes. Many people are capable of working and have the ability to work but can’t find jobs. Unemployed people, as defined by the International Labor Organization, include those who can’t find jobs even though they are capable of working and are actively seeking jobs.”
“There is a direct relationship between unemployment and certain kinds of crimes. Most of those who commit theft, slavery, beggary, fraud and other crimes are often unemployed. This doesn’t mean all unemployed people are criminals, but those who are unemployed are closer to committing crime than those who are employed,” he said.
He said unemployment has psychological, family and social effects that can contribute to increasing crime rates including theft, fraud, murder and organized crime.
“Many in society do not get jobs that meet their families’ needs, which leads to isolation, introversion and drinking or drug-taking to escape from reality. Their failure to provide their families’ basic needs leads to more family problems and sometimes crime,” he said.
Crime has a serious effect on a nation’s safety and security, and sometimes the unemployed have no affinity to their country.